The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched an Arab Water
Academy (AWA) to tackle water shortages in the region that will
increase as a result of climate change.

The academy has been set up by Environment Agency — Abu
Dhabi and the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture, an
applied research and development centre in Dubai promoting the use of
sustainable agricultural systems, with branches planned in other Arab
countries.

It will also act as a training institute for the Cairo-based
Arab Water Council, which coordinates efforts for water resources
management in the Arab world.

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AWA was officially launched last week (6 July) and has
received US$1 million from the Abu Dhabi government and US$300,000 over
three years from the World Bank, while around US$200,000 has been
promised by the Islamic Development Bank. The academy hopes to raise
additional support from other regional and international donors.

The academy will focus on developing technologies for water
treatment and desalination, and research the region's rapidly dwindling
groundwater reserves and the growing gap between water demand and
supply.

It will provide postgraduate degrees, with no tuition fees, in
water sciences through affiliation with universities in the region. AWA
will also offer graduate field research, and organise training
programmes for scientists, environmentalists, technologists and
policymakers to develop the scientific workforce needed for water
management.

AWA will prepare a database of research on water in the region
and set up a network of Arab water scientists and institutions as well
as producing a scientific magazine for knowledge dissemination and to
increase public awareness about the role of water science in
development.

According to a World Bank report, the Middle East has five per
cent of the world's population but only one per cent of the water.

"Since water is a key part of the development of the region,
the decision to step up efforts on water issues in the region is a very
positive development," says Anders Jägerskog, Project Director at
Stockholm International Water Institute in Sweden.

Jägerskog is assisting AWA in designing and implementing a strategic work plan for 2008—2010.